Meter.



W. S. HADAWAY, III.

METER.

APPLICATION FILED Dimes. I9I2.

Patented May 14, 1918.

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WILLIAM S. HADAWAY, J R., OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

METER.

To all whom t may concern.' l

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. HABA.- WAY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements Meters, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements .in meters..

One of'the objects of my invention is to provide means for accurately determin-v ing the rate of activity of a heated surface, or, as it may otherwise be expressed, for determining the work performed by a surface which is giving up heat. Another object is to provide improved means for determining the heat conductivity ofsolids, liquids or gases. A further object is to provide improved means for measuring the flow of liquids or gases.

Other objects and advantages of the i-nvention will hereinafter appear.

Figure l of the drawings is a diagram to which referenceis to be made for an under-standing of the broad underlying features of the invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate concrete embodiments of one phase of the invention, each figure representing a diferent embodiment.

In Fig. l, an active element or heating element is indicated by the letter R, said heating element being preferably an electrical resistance which dissipates heat to the surrounding medium Mvwhen current is passed through said resistance. If we assume that the resistance is surrounded by a given gas, the heat dissipated by said element will'be conducted away by said gas at a certain rate determined by the characteristics of said gas. If again we assume said resistance to be surrounded by a gas having greater heat conducting properties, heat will be conducted away from the resistance at a higher rate, ythereby maintaining said resistance at a lower temperature than in the first case. lf the resistance or active Velementis made -of material which changes its resistance with changes in temperature, it will be seen that the diference between the resistance `of said element when dissipatingheat to one surrounding medium, and when dissipating heat to a different surrounding medium, will4 be an indication of the heat-conducting -Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led December 26, 1912. Serial No. 738,644.

4current 'iiowing therethrough with an amproperties of said respective media. The variation in the resistance of said element may be readily determined by measuring'the .said element may also be used .as a basisfor determining' the relative conductivity of said liquid with respect to other liquids, in a manner analogous to that described above.

As a further illustration, said resistance t-may be embedded in a solid,.and the heat'- conducting properties ofsaid solid may be similarly determined, or the rate of activity of any heat radiating surface of said solid be ascertained. all of the above illustrations, the basis miy l1 'for'calculation is the relative efficiencies of the various media in taln'ng heat from the heat dissipating element. In all cases, said media have what might be called a cooling effect in that they take away heat which, if not removed. would cause a great increase in the temperature of the heating element.

In the case of liquids and gases, parent that the cooling effect may beobtained not only by conduction, but also by convection, that is, by relative movement of the surrounding medium with respect to the heating element. Thus, the cooling effect or, as it may be termed in this case, the Ventilating e'ect of liquid or gas is much increased if said liquid or. gas is flowing past the heating element. For a high rate of iow, the temperature ofthe heating element will not be permitted to rise as much as it would rise for a lower rate of How. Hence, by arranging the heating element in a conduit whereby the stream of iuid whose flow is to be determined, is forced to iiow past said heater, it will be seen that means are provided for determining the weight of 'the passing fluid regardless of variations in the temperature, pressure or volum'ther'eof.

My invention, therefore, in its broad aspects, has numerous phases. The present application. deals more particularly with that phase of theinven'tion wherein the heat is dissipated to a moving fluid body, for example, steam, gas or vapor.

In carrying out my invention along -the suggested lines, I arrange an electrical heating unit in a chamber or lcondult through Patented May 14., 191s.,

it is apwhich passes he sieani of gas oi. sieein Whose How is he he nieasuied, and ineasuie the diffeienee between the ienipeiatuie of the heater iuateiiai when suhsteniaiiy no heat is being dissipated and when 'the gas is being heaed ai a known or deierininabie iate. For a given rete o heat dissipation this tempeiefui'e diiferenee vaiies with `the Tate of idea of gas, decreasing as 4the seize of flow increases and T/iee weise, oi foi" a given ieiupeatuiie diiefenee 4ehe ieee oi' heee dissipeion iequii'ed to maintain said constant difference Varies with the ehenges in 'the fete of flow eneh in eitheie ease, is a measure of said Tate of iioW.

The appa-fetus iihistraied in Fig. 2 consists of e, sui'zahie ohaniheior conduit i through which passes the iiowing gas in the direction indieaied hy ehe aiiow. An eieehi'ieei heating eieinen. 2 isaiianged Wiihin iihe ehenlhei and is preieiahiy unii'oi'miy disposed aeioss JLhe same in the oiin oi a. grid or ser-een. Said eienient is mede of resistance material "which varies iis iesistance with ehane'es temp-eraiui'e. The oiun of the heating eiemeni; may he ifa-i'ied Wiihin Wideiiiniis, hut as the deteiis of said element. and the manner of mounting Athe same forni no nari'. of the preseni ins/'entiona said heating; eieinen; is iiiustiaied onij/ diagrammetieaiiv.

Current may he supplied to J@he eieciti'ieai heating eieinent from auf,1 suite-hie seuiee9 i'or exampie, from the mains 3, e, ,across which said heaising eieinent is eonnee'ed in.

the presen; instances. An amine'eei 5 is eenneeted in series with the heating element io ineasuie the euiieni suppiied iheie'so end a voitmeter is connected aooss the 'terminais of said heating element ue ineasuie the witzige diop aeioss ehe saine.

@When the gas is owing 4xhe heating eienieniJ end iieeie oi no @miens is iiowing through ehe istie?, its beninei'atuife will he the' saine as ehe tenipei'eiui'e oi? Jehe gas. ifihen, however. eonsideifahie euiieni; is non ingr through said heaiing elementa its teniperaeuie sends zo inefease greaihf. and heat is dissipaied ie said ido-Wing; gas Whieh eehif'eys away 'ghe heai; as it is being geneiaeeh LL I mainieined Constanta it will he seen that ihe vai'ia-ions in this diideienee of teniyeila- 1tui'e will he a nieasuie of the fate of iiow. To deieiniine this diiieienee of temperature for any known rate of heet dissipation, it is necessary ineiieiy to ineasure'ihe :eesisance of the hea-ter when the unheaed gas is iioW- ing, only a small amount of current being permitted to ioW thiough Jche heater for this puipose, and then again to measure the resistance of said heater when suiheient ouiient is heaving therethrough to cause the dissipation of enough heet to effect a substantiai iise in temperetuie oi' the gas. The re sistenee oi the heater materiai in both cases is i'eadiij; obtained by reading the ammetei and voitmeter and ieferiiing to suitable cahbration Curves. Knowing .thetwo different iaiues of the iesisianee, the fate oi" How of the gas may he ieadiiy determined byv caieuiations or hy reieiing to suitable calibraltion ouin/es.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 3 comprises me suhstan'tiaiiy similar resistance elements 'i' and 8, which are aise similar to the resistance eieineni; shown in Fig. 2. An aminetei 9 and a Voiernetei 10 are piovided for measuring' Jhe resistance of the element 4' aude second ammetei iland Vohsmeter l2 are provided ier measuring the iesistance oi' J(he eieinene S. iesistanee 13 is arranged in seiies with the heating unit 8 out has no effect on the uniiJ 7. Accordingly, sufiieient heat may he dissipated from the heatei 7 to Cause an appreciable rise iu the tenip-eifaiuie oi Jehe iciowing; gas, the siuaii auiounft of euirent iiowing Jrfhiough the i'esistanee S having no appreciable heating eieei thereon.

By hailing; suitahie readings in the inaunei previousiy deseiihed, the iesistanee of the heai/e'f yunit 7 may he obtained. The iesisanee of the heatei' unit 8 may aise be ohtained in a sinn-iai manner. The Vahle of Vthis iattei resistance is e measure oi the temperature oi the gas after heating. 'For a known raie of heai1 dissipation, the flowing gas Wiii have iis i'neniei'etuie increased un amount dependenb on its rate oi How, a high este of HOW resui'ting in a slight increase in ienipei'a'ture and a ion' yate of How resultingl in a greater ineiease in ienipewiui'e, Fioui Jehe two ieadings lohiained. the wie oi iow ma),Y he deeiinined hy refe/renee io suiiahie eaiihiuiion euives.

The enpaiabus shown in Fig'. 4 is euh seniiaiiy the saine as that shown iu his; i3. and he saine reference ehaiaeiei's have been applied tu Coiiesponding paris. in this imiter iig'uiee hou'ei'ei, the huiei' 'i' is :u2 iauged in ibhe i'eai' oi the 'theiunomeiei S. the iesistanee i8 Peeing eonneeied in series with seid theimonieei 7 whereby a snieii i ouiieni .fion-s hi'ough said ihm iene heating current fion-'ing Cil through the resistance 7. With this arrangement, the resistance of the thermometer 8 gives a measurel of the temperature of the unheated gas as it approaches the heater. A comparison of the resistances of the elements 7 and '8 with suitable calibration curves will, in this case also, permit the rate of low of said gas to be readily determined. i

One important advantage of all of these methods of measurement is that the amount of electrical energy consumed'by the-apparatus is relatively small. Another advantage is that the number of Aresistance elements required is small, thereby providing a meter of simple and economical construction.

It is to be understood, of course, that the phase of -the invention under discussion is not to be limited to the devices and circuit arrangements illustrated, but may be embodied in various other forms. more, as appears from the introductory statements, the numerous other phases of the invention may be embodied in widely divergent forms adapted for entirely different applications in the various arts.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. The methodV of measuring the flow of fluids which consists in passing a stream of said fluid into heat exchanging relation to a body or medium to cause a heat transfer at a determinable rate and determining the temperature etl'ect on the body or medium of the heat transfer.

2. The method of measuring the flow of fluids which consists in determining the temperature eilect. of a stream of the flowing luid on a body or medium to which heat energy is supplied at a determinable rate.

3. The method of measuring the flow of fluids which consists in determining the cooling 'etlect of a stream of the fluid on heat dissipating means subjected thereto and to which heat is supplied at a, determinable rate.

4. The method of measuring the low of iluids which consists in supplying heat at a determinable rate to aheater in a stream of fluid and determining the elect on the heater of the heat transfer between the fluid and the heater.

5. The method of measuring the flow o fluids which consists in imparting heat at a determinable rate to a stream of fluid from a suitable heater and determining the cooling cil'ect of the fluid on the heater.

6. The method of measuring the flow of fluids whichincludes determining the temperature of the unheated luid, imparting heat to said fluid at a determinable rate by means of a heater and determining the temperature of the heater while imparting heat to the duid. l

Further;

7. The method of measuring the lloW of 4fluids, which includes determining the re- `fluids, which includes sending at diil'erent times a small current and a large current through a single electrical resistance located in a stream of the fluid, said large current serving to heat said fluid, determiningthe resistance of said resistance with the dilerent currents flowing therethrough and determining therefrom the temperature of the flowing body of fluid before and after being heated.

9. The method of measuring the flow of fluids which consists in imparting heat at a dete-rminable rate to a stream of :fluid by means of a heated body and determining the Ventilating eEect of the llowing stream on the heated body. y

10. The method of measuring the flow of fluids which consists in dissipating heat at a predetermined rate to a flowing stream of the fluid by means of an electrical heating element and determining the cooling eect of the moving body of Huid on said heating element.

1l. A meter comprising a housing, a. singleheating element within the housing for dissipating heat to the fluid flowing therethrough, said element having a resistance which changes with changes in temperature, means for measuring the variations in resistance of said element and means for measuring the energy supply to said element.

l2. A fluid meter comprising a housing, a single electrical heating element therein for dissipating heat v4to the fluid flowing through the heater, said element having a positive temperature coeiiicient, means for measuring the variations in resistance of said element, and means for measuring the energy supply to said element.

13. A fluid meter comprising a single electrical resistance element arranged in a `conduit to dissipate heat to a moving body of fluid flowing through said conduit and means for measuring the resistance of saidv element when dissipating heat at a negligible rate 'and when dissipating heat at a predetermined rate whereby the rate of flow of fluid may be determined.

14. A meter comprising a conduit through which passes the fluid Whose flow is to be measured, a single resistance element therein for imparting heat to said flowing fluid and means from which the resistance or temperature of said element maybe determined.

l5. 'in combination a conduit throui'hA which a stream of Huid is directed, a heating element mounted in said conduit., rneans for suppiying eiectricai energy to said heating eiement., an aninieter for measuring Jthe current iioWin through said heating eieinent, and a 'ro trneter for measuring the no tentiai drop across the saine.

i6. The inethcd oi determining the Work perorinedhy a radiating surface which consists in dissipating heat from a heating eiement to a body of which said surface is a boundary and determining the temperature of said heating eienient Whiie dissipating heat at a known rate.

li'. The combination with a heating eieinent of means for directing a moving iiuid body past the saine to `hea-t said duid and means from which the dierence in temperature between said iiuid and said heating eiement may be :measured whereby the rate oi dow ci tiuid 'may he determined.

i8. rhe improved method or' measuring heat dissipation which consists in determining the resistance orr1 an eiectricai heating element when dissipating heat to a desired medium and comparing said resistance with the resistance of said eieinent when dissipating heat to a standard rnediuin.

19. The method orn determining the heat conductivity or given medium which consists in imparting heat thereto hy ineens of a heating eienient and determining the teinpeinture of said eienient when surrounded by said medium and dissipating heat thereto and referring said temperature to the temperature of said element when imparting heat to a standard medium.

20. fihe herein described process ci Ineasuring the new of iuids which consists in dissipating heat at a predetermined rate 'to a iiowing stream oi the i'iuid by ineans of an electric heater and determining the difference in resistance said heater *when imparting heat to the rowing stream or' tiuid and when imparting heat to a stationary body orn the duid.

2i. The herein described process o nicasuring the rate of dow of duide which consists in imparting heat to the :viewing stream o gas at a predetermined rate "oy means of an electric heater and determining the ein? rect of the heat dissipation on said heater.

22. fihe inethod of measuring the riow of iuios which consists in passing1 a stream of duid into heat exchanging1 reiation to a body or medium haring a different temperature than the duid, maintaining the rate of heat energy suppiy to the body or inediuin constunt and determining the effect on the hody or inediuin oft-hc heat transfer.

The method ciI measuringthe iiow of vsuloniied at a constant rate.

25. The method oia measuring the How or iiuids which consists in passing a stream oit the iiuid into heat exchanging relation to a hcdy or medium haring a did'erent temperature than the duid, maintaining the difference in temperature constant, and measuring the variations in the rate or heat exchange.

26. The method o' measuring the iriow ci 'duide which consists in determining the amount of heat energy required to ina-intain a body or medium upon which the iiuid exerts a cooling actionA as it idotvs at a ternperature 'which exceeds that of the iiuid by a constant amount.,

2?. rihe rnethod of measuring the -dow of 'fluids which consists in determining the rate at *which heat energy is suppiied to niaintain a hody or medium upon which `the duid enerts a cooling action as it news at a 'temperature which el'oeeds that ci the duid hy a constant amount.

28. The method of measuring the fiow of iiuids which consists in determining the amount of eiectrie energy required to ineintain an eiectricai resistance upon which the derving stream` of iiuid exerts a cooiing action as it tion/s at a. temperature which eX- ceeds that of the duid by a constant amount.

29. 'Ehe inethod ci measuring the non oi fluids which consists in passingl a stream of huid into heating proximity to an electric heater suplniying electric energy to said heater at a rate tovrrnaintain it at a ternperature which exceeds that or the iiuid hy a constant amount and measuring the rate at which energy is so supplied.

80. The inethod of measuring the fion' of duide `which consists in passing` a stream ot the riuid into heating Vproninfiity to la heater, suiloiyingy heat energy to said heater to maintain it at a temperature which exceeds that of the duid heilig measured by a conv stant amount and measuring the rate at vwhich heat energy is supplied to maintain said constant excess or temperature.

in Witness whereof., have hereunto suhscriioed my name in the presence oi two witnesses.

i?. VV". n sans.

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